353. Ann Diament Koffsky: Art, Storytelling, and Jewish Pride

Ever wondered how authors conjure up the worlds that enthrall us?

Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Ann Diament Koffsky, an award-winning author and illustrator, who brings a wealth of experience and heartfelt stories.

From teaching art in a bomb shelter in Israel to confronting the omission of women's faces in ultra-orthodox media, Anne's journey is as inspiring as it is impactful.

In today's conversation, Anne peels back the layers of her creative process, influenced by her roles as a teacher and a parent, and shares her approach to embedding valuable lessons into her books. We'll also delve into her American Jewish family's story of achieving the dream across generations, her rally against anti-Semitism, and her efforts to give back to the community.

Anne's relatable struggle with her creative muse during tough times, her gratitude for parental support, and her mission to preserve legacies through storytelling promise to resonate with many of our listeners. We'll also uncover how Anne instills Jewish pride and strength within her work, amidst discussions of current geopolitical issues and generational trauma.

So, let's dive in and learn from Anne's journey of nurturing creativity, facing adversity head-on, and the importance of crafting stories that speak to both the young and young at heart. Get ready, dads, daughters, and everybody in between – it's time to Better Call Daddy!

Ann Diament Koffsky is the award winning author and illustrator of more than forty picture books for children. Her newest book, “Ping Pong Shabbat” will be out in 2024 from Little Bee Books, and is the story of Ping Pong champion Estee Ackerman, who chose to not play on Shabbat.

Ann has also  created artwork for products by Hallmark, Costco, Great Arrow Graphics and Rite Lite Judaica.

Previously, she was an editor and art director at Behrman House Publishers and an adjunct professor of art at Yeshiva University.

Ann also creates free, Jewish coloring pages for kids that you can print from her blog at www.annkoffsky.com.

Links to share:

https://annkoffsky.com/

My Author page on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ann-D.-Koffsky/author/B0056QJW98?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MDAyOTk0Mjg3MzgxMzU3?story_media_id=3307870929761035627&igsh=MzE0YjBicmx0Zmxh

Jeremy’s channel on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@baseballheirlooms

Video interview of her Dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS8rHCq6Mvs

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